The week before the marathon was abnormal. I developed a sore throat on Sunday, and it got worse on Monday, so I took a few days off and took a 500mg of Vitamin C per day, ate a bunch of oranges, and took plenty of Dayquil, while eating cough drops like they are candy . . . which they kinda are.

By Thursday I felt back close to normal. Easy run on Thursday and Saturday - some marathon-pace stuff, a couple of short, strong intervals, but not deep - and I came into the weekend feeling 100%.

Friday night I had a big meal, and Saturday breakfast was a box of cereal, plus an early dinner. In bed at 8pm. 4am wakeup call - oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, then hopped a train for Downtown Chicago. Kissed the wife goodbye, since she was going to watching the race with friends. Got in line for the portapotties, had my other banana, and drank some gatorade.

I linked up with my starting corral at about 7am, with a 7:30am gun time, and crossed the start line at 7:40:31am.

Event warmup:

None, or rather, the first few miles.

Run

5h 21m 59s

26.2 miles

12m 17s min/mile

Comments:

The first 13 miles went exactly to plan - I watched my heart rate, kept it in the middle of zone 2 (less than 140bpm), and crusied along.

I ran into issues, similar to what I experienced at the Chicago Triathlon, with GI issues and stomach cramps I really need to figure this out and tame it. The GI issues started sometime after I ate a Gatorade Endurance shot back and then later a Powerbar Energy Gel. I don't know which one disagrees with me, but my mission will be to test it and figure it out.

With the stomach cramps hitting hard, I hit a few porta-potties and walked it out for about 5 miles.

By the time the cramps subsided, my legs had grown cold and started to stiffen. I was able to run/walk some for the last few miles, and I finished pretty well.

I know I'm capable of a 4:30 marathon- perhaps even a 4:00 with a bit more training - the legs felt fine until they grew stiff and cold. Once I have the nutrition stuff licked, I'll be able to perform better.

What would you do differently?:

I need to figure out the nutrition stuff. My last two races have been plagued by GI issues, and until I figure it out and fix it, my dreams and plans of 70.3 and Ironman Wisconsin are doomed.

Post race

Warm down:

Walked. A lot. Took some gatorade. Walked some more. Sipped some Gatorade. Linked up with my wife, drank a protein shake, drank about a quarter of a Goose Island 312 (my first beer in over two months), walked some more.

Walked back, hopped a train, and went home.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

GI issues, plain and simple. I was within about 4min of my goal time, despite pee breaks, until the GI cramps left me walking in agony.